MONTICELLO — Last Friday’s matchup between Monticello and Cornwall was nothing short of electrifying inside “The Pit.” Monticello was looking to get back on track after a 51-43 loss to the Saugerties Sawyers as they laced up and prepared to take the court against the Dragons.

As the second game of the varsity double header, the gym was already at capacity having watched the Lady Dragons defeat the Lady Panthers earlier in the evening. Monticello was able to avenge the girls with a 77-66 league win to close out the night.

Cornwall was the first to score, with Jack Demetriow, who finished with 13 points,  netting a three-pointer. Monticello’s senior guard Christian Brown answered swiftly with back-to-back baskets to get the crowd going and take the lead of what looked to be an up and down battle.

As the opening quarter continued, the energy continued to rise with each bucket scored. Cornwall tallied 16 points in the frame while Monticello netted 15.

Cornwall’s Gavin McWherter showed great leadership with his pace and effort on both sides of the ball with seven first quarter points.

Christian Brown led the charge for the Panthers with his efforts crashing the boards and rejecting shots before getting downhill and scoring eight points for Monticello.

The second quarter was right on brand with the first as both teams continued to knock down shot after shot and get the crowd onto their feet for yet another electrifying evening in “The Pit.”

Monticello’s own senior guard Rafael Liciaga finally got on the board after a scoreless first quarter, sinking three from distance, including two back-to-back that forced a Cornwall timeout.

His energy was matched by teammate Daevion Sandoval, who added an additional eight points in the second to add to his one basket in the first for a total of ten first half points on his way to a game-high 21.

For Cornwall, it was a team effort with six scorers  combining for 18 points in the quarter, while Monticello netted 19 and tied the game at 34 apiece at halftime.

Both teams came out of the tunnel to start the third and got right back to it, exchanging basket for basket to start the quarter. However, in the third, the Panthers turned up and put up a 14-0 run in the quarter, led primarily by Christian Brown (8), Daevion Sandoval (7) and Judah Brown (5) as Monticello put up 27 points in the third to take a 61-53 lead entering into the fourth.

The Panthers opened the fourth with an 8-point lead, against a Dragons team that was eager to cut into the deficit. The two teams started with tough defense, not allowing a point for the first 2:07 of the quarter. 

Jayden Cuevas-Berrios, who sunk a mid-range buzzer beater for the Panthers in the third, broke the stalemate with two converted free throws.

Judah Brown followed with a layup, two of his six points in the quarter, as the Panthers continued to attack downhill.

The Panthers closed out the quarter outscoring the Dragons 16-13 and earning a 77-66 victory.

Daevion Sandoval led with 21 points, Christian Brown netted 19 and Judah Brown had 14 in the win for Monticello.

Cornwall was led by Gavin McWherter with 19 and Malik Sonko who added 10.